TUCSON, Ariz. -- Already an All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball, Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was named the same publication's 2009 Louisville Slugger National Freshman of the Year, the magazine announced Wednesday from its headquarters in Tucson, Ariz.

Rendon has had a sensational debut season at the Division I level. He became the first player in Conference USA history to be named both the league Player of The Year and Freshman of The Year in the same season. Rendon leads the league in home runs (19) and slugging percentage (.688) and he is tops on the team and among the C-USA's best in batting average (.384) and RBI (70). The Houston native from nearby Lamar High School has scored 57 runs, with 13 doubles and he has been walked 31 times for a .458 on-base average. Rendon has also stole nine bases and played outstanding defense at the demanding hot corner.

Rendon is the Owls' first National Freshman of the Year since Joe Savery, an eventual first round draft pick by Major League Baseball, in 2005. This season Rice has a 43-16 record and recently won the NCAA Houston (Rice) Regional.

This week, the Owls take on number-one ranked LSU in the NCAA Super Regional in Baton Rouge, La. The entire series will be televised live across the nation on ESPN. The winner of that best-of-three series gets a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., which begins on June 13.